July 3rd, 1965

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

7/3/65 – Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger dies … he was 25

A Few More Of Your Mid-Week Comments

Wanna feel old(er)???

Debbie Harry just turned 80 yesterday!

The sexy former Playboy Bunny lead singer of Blondie first hit the charts in a very big way in 1979 when their debut chart single “Heart Of Glass” went all the way to #1.  (They would score three other #1 hits before they were thru … "Call Me" hit #1 in 1980 ... while “The Tide Is High” and “Rapture” both topped the charts in 1981.)

Happy Birthday, Debbie!  We love ya!  (kk)

Hey Kent, 

Just a quick comment about the Turtles.

I always liked the band and I give them a ton of credit for turning about a dozen singles into a 60 year music career. Back in the day, songs were usually close to two minutes long (give or take a bit.)  My thought has always been 30 minutes worth of music sustained the band over all these years. I believe they had eight singles in the Top 20 and a few more that didn't chart so high.

One thing I never understood was how my all time Turtles favorite, "LET ME BE" only made it to #29 on the Billboard chart. Oh well. "THANKS" for listening.

Gary Maurer

I’ve always loved The Turtles …they actually played at my high school back in 1967.  (“She’s My Girl” had just been released as a single, one of the eight Top 20 Hits that you mentioned.  See The Turtles Hit List below!)

“Let Me Be” was never one of my favorites … but if it’s any consolation, it actually rose to #25 on the Record World chart … and it hit #26 in Cash Box, both besting its #29 showing in Billboard!

It’s a shame that Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman can no longer participate in the “Happy Together” Tour that bears their name, thanks to their all-time biggest hit.  They always put on a fun and entertaining show ... and always seemed to be having as much fun up there as we were in the audience!  (kk)

THE TURTLES HIT LIST

1965- It Ain’t Me Babe (#7)

1965 – Let Me Be (#25)

1966 – You Baby (#15)

1967 – Happy Together (#1)

1967 – She’d Rather Be With Me (#1)

1967 – You Know What I Mean (#12)

1967 – She’s My Girl (#14)

1968 – Sound Asleep (#30)

1968 – The Story Of Rock And Roll (#36)

1968 – Elenore (#5)

1969 – You Showed Me (#1)

John Fogerty has been appearing on Sirius/XM’s Classic Vinyl Channel this week, telling stories and playing some of his favorites alongside some of the new music he has recorded with his family.  His “Legacy” CD (where he recreates some of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s biggest hits) is out August 22^nd.  

And, The Billy Joel Channel is back in preparation for the two-part HBO special airing later this month.  (Part 1 airs July 18th, and Part 2 premiers on July 25th)

In light of Billy's recent health issues, the timing could be better for pique interest!  (kk) 

Tomorrow (July 3^rd) The Get Together Foundation will be presenting a concert paying tribute to the music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.

It all takes place at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, California.  The Tribe Band will be the headliners, but along the way they’ll be joined on stage by special guests like Blondie Chaplin and David Marks, both former members of The Beach Boys, as well as Brian’s daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson (from Wilson Phillips … who are playing here next month in Michigan … about a 90-100 minute drive that we’re considering making.)

Also appearing will be The Honeys, Leo Knutson and former Wrecking Crew member Don Randi, as well as actor/singer Rob Morrow, actress Rebecca Holden, Lawrence Juber (from Wings), Nelson Bragg from The Brian Wilson Band and many others (with more surprises promised.)  A silent and live auction are also planned.

It's late, but there are still some tickets available: 

https://wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/events/get-together-foundation-a-tribute-to-the-beach-boys/

https://www.axs.com/events/990231/a-tribute-to-the-beach-boys-tickets?skin=agoura

https://givebutter.com/Xp9O0O

Meanwhile, The Beach Boys are scheduled to appear at the annual Capitol Fourth Concert in Washington, DC, along with The Temptations, Josh Turner, Yolanda Adams and others.  The concert will air on PBS on the 4^th of July at 7 pm Central Time.  (kk)

Kenny Loggins has a new book out.  It’s his autobiography, “Still Alright” … and you can order a copy here:  https://store.rockcellarmagazine.com/product/kenny-loggins-still-alright-a-memoir/

It sounds like Glastonbury marked the final performance of The Searchers, one of the most talented (and under-rated bands of The British Invasion)

Clark Besch sent me a long “thank you and farewell” letter from Frank Allen …

But better still, there are some photos and videos to enjoy here:  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=searchers+glastonbury

Meanwhile, Ivan Doroschuk has reformed Men Without Hats and released a new song, “I Love The ‘80’s” as well as announced a new tour that will cover The UK, Europe and The United States.

Men Without Hats scored a Top Three Hit in 1983 with “The Safety Dance.  The new single employs that same techno-sound that made their first hit so popular.

While Ivan is the only original member of the band (he wrote and sang all of the band’s chart hits, as well as this new one), there is still a connection between this new version and the original …

Sahara Sloan (keyboards and vocals) is the daughter of Ivan’s brother, founding member Colin Doroschuk.  Sho Murray (guitar) and Adrian White (drums) fill out the line-up.

From the official press release …

Men Without Hats Travel Back to the Future With New Single “I ❤️ the ‘80s” and UK/EU/US/CAN Tour

Dust off your Walkman, dig out that denim jacket, and prepare for a neon-coloured nostalgia trip: Men Without Hats are back with a synth-pop banger that celebrates the decade that made them legends. Their new single, “I ❤️ the ‘80s,” out now, comes with a hair-sprayed wink and a shoulder-padded strut, and it's everything you’d expect from the band who gave us “The Safety Dance” — and more.

“I ❤️ the ‘80s” is a riotous, melodic time machine powered by boom boxes, moonwalks, tube tops, and enough pop-culture references to make Stranger Things blush. “Everybody felt alive / Back in 1985,” sings frontman Ivan Doroschuk, before commanding us to “Party like it’s ‘82” and “Dance safely across the floor / Like we did in ‘84.” If you were there, you’ll get goosebumps. If you weren’t, this is your crash course.

As Ivan puts it: “One of the biggest challenges in writing this song was narrowing down all the things I loved about the '80s … The song could have been half an hour long!” In place of a guitar solo, the band even cheekily dropped in a sing-along refrain of “Pop Goes The World,” their Top 20 Hit from 1988, a move that marries nostalgia with cheeky brilliance.

The single is available now, with the LP scheduled for an October release, by which time the band will be circling back for another series of US dates.  (Their full tour schedule as it currently stands is posted below … more US dates are expected to be added)

MEN WITHOUT HATS – SUMMER, 2025 TOUR DATES – NORTH AMERICA
July 1, 2025 – Officer’s Square – Fredericton, NB
July 25, 2025 – Canyons Village – Park City, UT
July 28, 2025 – Soda Row Live Daybreak – South Jordan, UT
August 6, 2025 – Peach Fest – Penticton, BC
August 9, 2025 – Rock the Kooney’s – Cranbrook, BC
August 12, 2025 – The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
August 13, 2025 – Oriental Theatre – Denver, CO
August 14, 2025 – Beaver Creek – Beaver Creek, CO
August 16, 2025 – Rock the Harbour Festival – Dartmouth, NS

UK/EU TOUR – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 2025
August 21, 2025 – The Old Woollen – Leeds, UK
August 22, 2025 – Fringe Festival (La Belle Angele) – Edinburgh, UK
August 23, 2025 – Academy 3 – Liverpool, UK
August 24, 2025 – Craufurd Arms – Milton Keynes, UK
August 25, 2025 – The Garage – London, UK
August 27, 2025 – De Helling – Utrecht, NL
August 28, 2025 – Nieuwe Nor – Heerlen, NL
August 29, 2025 – Mergener Hof – Trier, GER
August 30, 2025 – Das Rind – Russelsheim, GER
August 31, 2025 – Exil – Gottingen, GER
September 2, 2025 – Feierwerk – Munich, GER
September 3, 2025 – Die Stadtmitte (80’s Party) – Karlsruhe, GER
September 4, 2025 – Sumpfblume – Hameln, GER
September 5, 2025 – Trompete – Bochum, GER
September 6, 2025 – NCN Festival – Leipzig-Deutzen, GER
September 8, 2025 – Shiva – Bremerhaven, GER
September 9, 2025 – Markthalle @ MarX – Hamburg, GER
September 10, 2025 – Lido – Berlin, GER
September 11, 2025 – Die Pumpe – Kiel, GER
September 12, 2025 – Hotel Cecil – Copenhagen, DEN
September 13, 2025 – Musikens – Gothenburg, SWE
September 14, 2025 – Slaktkyrkan @ Hus 7 – Stockholm, SWE
September 16, 2025 – John Dee – Oslo, NOR
September 17, 2025 – Babel – Malmö, SWE

FALL, 2025 – CANADA & U.S. – MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
October 4, 2025 – Base31 – Picton, ON
October 16, 2025 – The Parker – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
October 17, 2025 – Moss Centre – Miami, FL
October 18, 2025 – Sunrise Theatre – Ft. Pierce, FL
October 19, 2025 – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL

It's one of those times when you just have to ask yourself, “Is it really worth it???”

Joe Perry is hinting about one final Aerosmith concert to say goodbye … something that can be watched worldwide and allow the band to go out on top.

Perry says, "I've always played like every show's the last one” … but is this really worth the risk of shattering Steven Tyler’s vocal cords for the rest of his life?  Because you know Steven’s going to want to go balls out for this show, too.

Time will tell where it goes from here … I’m sure they’d all LOVE to do it … but is that the wisest decision at this point?  (kk)

Belated Birthday Wishes 🎁🎂💝🎉!!!! to Mel Brooks ... having some laughs with late wife Anne Bancroft at Spago. 

 

Congratulations to our FH Buddy Jeff March on his announced retirement after 32 years of heading up EditPros with his partner, Marti Smiley Childs.  (Marti will stay on to run their BookPrep website.)

Jeff and Marti put together that EXCELLENT series of “Where Have All The Pop Stars Gone” books that we have referenced here numerous times in the past.

Those books are still available to order here:

• Echoes of the Sixties

• Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? Volume 1

• Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? Volume 2

• Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? Volume 3

Tuesday This And That

It sounds like Rod Stewart absolutely killed it over the weekend with his performance at the Glastonbury Festival.  He was joined onstage by former bandmate Ronnie Wood for a couple of numbers (and even by Lulu for a sizzling duet on his hit “Hot Legs”) in what was described as “sweltering heat.” (Considering that Rod’s had to cancel a few shows recently due to health reasons, this was probably a risky proposition at best … but it sounds like he pulled it off with flying colors.

Stewart performed a 21-song set of hits and covers to a massive crowd of over 200,000 … and he sounds great in the videos already posted on YouTube.  (kk)

Here’s the complete set list:

Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)
Having a Party
Some Guys Have All the Luck
Love Train
The First Cut is the Deepest
Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
Forever Young
You Wear It Well
Maggie May
Young Turks
It’s a Heartache
I’d Rather Go Blind
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
Lady Marmalade
I Don’t Want to Talk About It
If You Don’t Know Me By Now (sung by Mick Hucknall of Simply Red)
Baby Jane
Proud Mary
Stay With Me (his big Faces hit, accompanied by former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood)
Hot Legs (with Lulu)
Sailing

We told you the other day that Foreigner WILL continue on with new lead singer Luis Maldonado.  (They were in the midst of what was supposed to be ... and billed as ... their farewell tour.)

This means that the band moving forward won’t have ANY of its original members.  (Hmm … there seems to be a LOT of that going around lately!)

Meanwhile, original lead singer Lou Gramm (who has also called it quits numerous times in the past, only to come back strong with more live shows) has filled HIS new 13 song set list ENTIRELY with Foreigner material (plus his solo hit “Midnight Blue” ... and a totally unnecessary drum solo.)

Here is the recent set list he performed last week:

1. Feels Like the First Time (from Foreigner, 1977)
2. Double Vision (from Double Vision, 1978)
3. Long, Long Way From Home (from Foreigner, 1977)
4. Waiting for a Girl Like You (from 4, 1981)
5. Blue Morning, Blue Day (from Double Vision, 1978)
6. Cold as Ice (from Foreigner, 1977)
7. Drum Solo
8. Midnight Blue (from Lou Gramm, Ready or Not, 1987)
9. That Was Yesterday (from Agent Provocateur, 1984)
10. Head Games (from Head Games, 1979)
11. Urgent (from 4, 1981)
12. I Want to Know What Love Is (from Agent Provocateur, 1985)

Encore:
13. Juke Box Hero (from 4, 1981)
14. Hot Blooded (from Double Vision, 1978)

We saw Lou perform at The Arcada Theatre a few years back and the music was so loud, we finally had to leave the theater … you just couldn’t enjoy it.  We saw him perform again as part of another show and he sounded fine so I’m sure it was just an isolated incident.  But what a GREAT show this would be to see!  (Talk about covering all the hits!!!)  kk

Micky Dolenz made an appearance at Comic Con this past weekend in Buffalo, New York … and I see that he’s once again earning headlines for his Songs And Stories Tour, which has just been resumed …

I saw this article posted on Yahoo over the weekend ... 

Last Surviving Member of The Monkees Shares Exciting News: 'Let's Make Some Noise'

https://parade.com/news/last-surviving-member-of-monkees-shares-exciting-news-june

A few pics from Comic Con, courtesy of David Salidor ...

 

Micky with Sam Jones (Flash Gordon), Danny Trejo (black cap) and Jodi Ritzen, who files this report ... photos courtesy the dis COMPANY

After thousands of cancelled flights Micky rerouted from LAX to NYC, then, next day, NYC to Buffalo, traveling for 30 hours in order to not disappoint fans at Nickel City Comic Con in Buffalo this weekend. 

The lines were crazy, Micky not stopping for two days in order to meet fans ... and then hosting a special dinner for Make A Wish.  He got to see some old friends like (the ones above) 

Micky did a hilarious Q and A, keeping the fans laughing for 30 minutes straight. It was a great weekend.

I keep saying it ... he's the hardest working man in show business!!!  (lol)  kk

Here are some more details on Stephen Bishop’s final album, “Thimk,” out August 15^th (but available for preorder now) through his website:  https://www.stephenbishop.com/thimk

Look for guest appearances by Eric Clapton, Sting, Graham Nash, Art Garfunkel, Jimmy Webb, Dave Grusin, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America, Marilyn Martin, David Benoit and David Pack, most of whom have covered Stephen Bishop songs in the past.  (kk)

Here's the video for the first single ...

It features Eric Clapton and Sting! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr2MlrI5u5k 

From Tom Cuddy …

Dionne Warwick, Only 84, Takes a Victory Lap at the Apollo with Songs, Stories, Laughs, and That Voice - Showbiz411

https://www.showbiz411.com/2025/06/28/dionne-warwick-only-84-takes-a-victory-lap-at-the-apollo-with-songs-stories-laughs-and-that-voice

Also this …

Paul Simon, 83, Cancels Two Shows Due to 'Chronic and Intense Back Pain' That Has Become 'Unmanageable'

https://people.com/paul-simon-83-cancels-2-shows-due-to-chronic-and-intense-back-pain-11763170

And, from Harvey Kubernik …

I'm finishing my next book, ‘Screen Gems: Pop Music Documentaries & Rock and Roll TV Scenes.’  In 2007, I had lunch with Brian Wilson and always wondered why, in 1964. '65 or '66, the beach-centric music he created with the Beach Boys and in the recording studio was never heard in a James Bond movie or soundtrack.

In 2025 the Capitol Beach Boys catalog is owned by UMe, and a while ago, UMe issued a 'Best of James Bond" collection of themes, culled from the United Artists catalog they also own.    

Q: You actually wrote and originally recorded the instrumental “Pet Sounds” for a James Bond movie, “Dr. No.” 

A: It got turned down, Harvey. They turned it down! They turned the damn thing down. It got submitted. If you can do the twist, then “Pet Sounds” got turned down. “We don’t have any interest in that song.” Fuck that shit, I’m gonna put it on "Pet Sounds." That’s why it went on "Pet Sounds." The James Bond people turned it down. And, when we play the “Pet Sounds” instrumental on stage now I turn around and face my band and take the piece in.

(I know "Dr. No" came out in late '62, but Brian was just getting the point across that he and the label were trying to place him in the Bond world.  In fact, the song "Pet Sounds" was originally called “Run, James, Run.”  – HK)

As previously mentioned, The Beach Boys cancelled their performance in Syracuse Sunday Night (6/29) – no reason was given, nor does it sound like a make-up date is expected to be announced.  (They are currently offering refunds.)

After watching the YouTube video of the show Shelley saw last week, one cannot help but wonder if this cancellation was due to health reasons pertaining to front man Mike Love.  He just looked and sounded so weak and frail in that video!  (One of the stories that I heard is that Love went on a crash diet in an effort to lose twenty pounds in order to “look good” for his Songwriters Hall Of Fame award a couple of weeks ago … crazy ... but the truth is, he looked and sounded downright feeble!)  Take care of yourself, dude ... you're 85 years old!!! (kk)

>>>Director Laurence Harlan Jacobs has put together a new music video for Norman Greenbaum’s classic #1 1970 Hit “Spirit In The Sky.”  I’ll be honest with you, I don’t quite get the point of the story here.  (kk)

I don't get it at all either.  The video just seems so generic.  Seems to me it could go with any number of any other songs.  Where's the dying part?!  I was expecting at the end for them to drive off a cliff "Thelma and Louis" style, or something!  (Or was this just a "Poor Boy's Ferris Bueller's Day Off?!")

Even so . . . . .  

CB